Diffuser

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a diffuser which is connected to a duct and discharges air that is guided by the duct, and the diffuser according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a diffuser frame which has a discharge port having a slot or quadrangular shape; a damping bar which is installed in the discharge port of the diffuser frame so as to be movable upward and downward, closes the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved upward, and opens the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved downward; a motor which is installed in the damping bar, and provides rotational power; and a screw shaft which has one side supported by the diffuser frame, and the other side connected to the motor, and moves the damping bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0006655, filed on Jan. 20, 2014, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a diffuser, and more particularly, to a diffuser capable of allowing maintenance thereof to be easily performed, and controlling a discharge flow rate of air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioning systems are installed in places where people congregate, such as residential spaces or office areas, or in factories where machinery and equipment are installed, thereby maintaining a pleasant interior temperature and humidity.

In general, the air conditioning system includes a cooling device which generates cold air, a heating device which generates warm air, a blower which blows the cold air or the warm air (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘air flow’), which is generated from the cooling device or the heating device, so as to distribute the air flow to the interior space, a duct which is connected to the blower and guides the air flow to the interior space, and an air diffuser which is installed in an outlet of a duct and discharges the air flow to the interior without a cold draft or swirling phenomenon.

The air diffuser is formed in various shapes such as a circular shape and a linear shape in accordance with a ceiling structure of a building, use of the air diffuser, and necessity of the air diffuser.

Recently, in order to implement a high-grade interior design, the linear air diffuser, which is relatively inconspicuous, is preferred.

The linear air diffuser is coupled to a chamber suspended from a ceiling, and serves to discharge air, which is blown through the duct by the blower, to the interior of a room. The linear air diffuser may be utilized as an air curtain that is installed in an elevator or an entrance.

However, in the related art, a blade or a vane is mounted in the air diffuser in order to adjust an opening degree of the linear air diffuser, and control a direction of an air flow.

However, in a case in which an opening degree of the air diffuser is adjusted using the blade or the vane, a discharge flow rate of air with respect to the opening degree is varied in accordance with a curve function, that is, a two-dimensional function due to structural characteristics.

Therefore, in a case in which an opening degree of the linear air diffuser is adjusted by rotating the blade or the vane, there is a problem in that it is difficult to precisely control a flow rate of air that is discharged through the linear air diffuser.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a diffuser capable of allowing maintenance thereof to be easily performed, controlling a discharge flow rate of air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner, and opening and closing a discharge port.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a diffuser which is connected to a duct, and discharges air that is guided by the duct. The diffuser may include: a diffuser frame which has a discharge port having a slot or quadrangular shape; a damping bar which is installed in the discharge port of the diffuser frame so as to be movable upward and downward, closes the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved upward, and opens the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved downward; a motor which is installed in the damping bar, and provides rotational power; and a screw shaft which has one side supported by the diffuser frame, and the other side connected to the motor, and moves the damping bar upward or downward by being supplied with rotational power from the motor.

The damping bar may include: a bar main body which has a motor accommodating portion having an open side; and a bar cover which is detachably coupled to the bar main body, and covers the opening of the motor accommodating portion. The motor may be separably accommodated in the motor accommodating portion of the bar main body.

A pair of motors may be installed at both sides of the damping bar which are opposite to each other.

The diffuser may further include: a supporting block which has a screw nut coupled to one side of the screw shaft; and a supporting bracket which is coupled to an upper portion of the diffuser frame in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal direction of the discharge port, and supports the supporting block.

The diffuser may further include a stopper which is coupled to one end of the screw shaft.

The diffuser may further include a chamber which connects the duct and the diffuser frame, and changes a flow direction of air that is guided by the duct.

The diffuser may further include a printed circuit board (PCB) which is embedded in the damping bar, and controls an operation of the motor.

In the diffuser according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the damping bar may engage with the discharge port of the diffuser frame using a projection-and-recess engagement and may close the discharge port of the diffuser frame, when the damping bar is moved upward. A discharge flow path having a predetermined length may be formed between a part of an outer surface of the damping bar and a part of an inner surface of the diffuser frame which forms the discharge port, when the damping bar is moved downward, and a discharge flow rate of air, which is discharged through the discharge port, with respect to an opening degree may be controlled in a linear manner using flow path resistance of the discharge flow path.

A part of the outer surface of the damping bar and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame, which engage with each other and close the discharge port, may be formed to be inclined.

The diffuser may further include a sealing member which is coupled to the damping bar, and comes into contact with the inner surface of the diffuser frame so as to surround the discharge port when the damping bar closes the discharge port.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the diffuser may allow maintenance thereof to be easily performed, may control a discharge flow rate of air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner, and may open and close a discharge port.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diffuser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the diffuser taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diffuser taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a diffuser frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a damping bar of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partially cut out perspective view illustrating a state in which the diffuser frame and the damping bar of FIG. 1 are coupled.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a bar cover of the damping bar of FIG. 6 is separated.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which the diffuser frame and the damping bar of FIG. 1 are coupled.

FIGS. 9 to 13 are perspective views and cross-sectional views illustrating operational states of the diffuser according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains may easily carry out the exemplary embodiment. The present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described herein.

It should be noted that the drawings are schematically illustrated, and the scales of the drawings may be different from the actual scales. Relative dimensions and ratios of the parts illustrated in the drawings are exaggerated or reduced in terms of sizes thereof for clarification of the drawings and convenience, and any dimension is only illustrative, and is not limited thereto. The same structures, elements or components illustrated in two or more drawings are designated by the same reference numerals so as to illustrate similar features.

The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is specifically presented as an ideal exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Therefore, the exemplary embodiment is not limited to specific forms in regions illustrated in the drawings, and for example, further includes modified forms by the manufacture.

Hereinafter, a diffuser 101 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

The diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is connected to a duct, and discharges air that is guided by the duct.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a diffuser frame 200, a damping bar 300, a motor 500, and a screw shaft 550.

The diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a supporting block 600, a supporting bracket 700, a stopper 570, a printed circuit board 540, a sealing member 360, and a chamber 800.

The diffuser frame 200 has a discharge port 209 in the form of a slot. Here, the discharge port 209 may be in a slot shape having both rounded end portions, or may be in an elongated rectangular shape. That is, the discharge port 209 may be formed in various shapes, such as a slot shape or a rectangular shape, which are publicly known to those skilled in the art.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the diffuser frame 200 may include a partition wall frame 220 which surrounds the discharge port 209, a lower frame 240 which is bent and extended at a lower side of the partition wall frame 220, and an upper frame 250 which is bent and extended at an upper side of the partition wall frame.

Specifically, the partition wall frame 220 surrounds the discharge port 209 so as to form a discharge flow path DP (illustrated in FIG. 12). An inner surface of the partition wall frame 220 faces an outer surface of the damping bar 300 which will be described below. That is, the discharge flow path DP having a predetermined length may be formed between a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the partition wall frame 220 of the diffuser frame 200 which forms the discharge port 209. The discharge flow path DP is blocked when the damping bar 300 is moved upward and closes the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200.

Although not illustrated, the lower frame 240 may be connected to a ceiling panel of a structure of a building. The upper frame 250 may be coupled to the chamber 800 which will be described below.

As previously illustrated in FIG. 3, the chamber 800 connects the duct (not illustrated) and the diffuser frame 200, and changes a flow direction of air, which is guided by the duct, so as to guide air to the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200.

The chamber 800 and the upper frame 250 of the diffuser frame 200 may be detachably coupled to each other by various coupling methods, such as a thread connection, which are publicly known to those skilled in the art.

The damping bar 300 is installed in the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200. The outer surface of the damping bar 300 faces the inner surface of the partition wall frame 220 of the diffuser frame 200.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the damping bar 300 is formed so as to engage with the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200 in a projection-and-recess engagement. That is, in a case in which the discharge port 209 is formed in a slot shape having both rounded end portions, or in an elongated rectangular shape, the damping bar 300 is also formed to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the discharge port 209.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200, which come into direct contact with each other so as to close the discharge port 209, are formed to be inclined.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 508 indicates a power line or a communication line for supplying electric power or signals to the motor 500 which will be described below and is embedded in the damping bar 300 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The damping bar 300 is installed to be movable upward and downward. Specifically, the damping bar 300 is moved upward to close the discharge port 209 while engaging with the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200, and moved downward to open the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200.

The damping bar 300 includes a bar main body 310 which has a motor accommodating portion 315 having an open side, and a bar cover 350 which is detachably coupled to the bar main body 310 and covers the opening of the motor accommodating portion 315. The bar main body 310 and the bar cover 350 may be detachably coupled to each other by various coupling methods, such as a thread connection or an interference fit, which are publicly known to those skilled in the art.

The sealing member 360 is coupled to the damping bar 300, and formed to surround the discharge port 209 while coming into contact with the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200 when the damping bar 300 closes the discharge port 209. That is, the sealing member 360 prevents a gap from being formed when the damping bar 300 is moved upward to close the discharge port 209, such that the damping bar 300 may stably open and close the discharge port 209. In a case in which a fine gap is formed when the discharge port 209 is closed, noise may occur while air leaks through the gap. The sealing member 360 seals the discharge port 209 while preventing a gap from being formed, thereby preventing the occurrence of noise.

The sealing member 360 may be coupled to an upper portion of the damping bar 300. Accordingly, the sealing member 360 may be easily replaced when the damping bar 300 is taken out of the discharge port 209.

The sealing member 360 may be made of various materials, such as synthetic resin, which are publicly known to those skilled in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the motor 500 is installed in the damping bar 300 and provides rotational power. FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the bar cover 350 of the damping bar 300 is separated.

Specifically, the motor 500 is separably accommodated in the motor accommodating portion 315 formed in the bar main body 310 of the damping bar 300. The motor accommodating portion 315 has an open side, and the motor 500 is accommodated through the open side. The bar cover 350 is coupled to the bar main body 310, and covers the open side of the motor accommodating portion 315. That is, the bar cover 350 covers the motor 500 accommodated in the motor accommodating portion 315.

Accordingly, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the motor 500, which is accommodated in the motor accommodating portion 315, may be easily taken out of the motor accommodating portion 315 after the bar cover 350 is separated from the bar main body 310. That is, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, maintenance of the motor 500 may be easily performed.

The motor 500 may be a step motor that may control a rotation angle and a rotational speed thereof. However, the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of motors 500 may be installed at both sides of the damping bar 300, which are opposite to each other. Of course, the motor accommodating portions 315 may also be formed at both sides of the bar main body 310, respectively.

In a case in which the pair of motors 500 is provided as described above, it is possible to prevent the damping bar 300 from being unnecessarily rotated by the rotation of the motor 500, and effectively prevent a gap from being formed when the discharge port 209 is closed, because the damping bar 300 stably engages with the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200.

The screw shaft 550 is connected with the motor 500 embedded in the damping bar 300. The screw shaft 550 is supported by the diffuser frame 200. That is, the screw shaft 550 has one side supported by the diffuser frame 200, and the other side connected to the motor 500, such that the screw shaft 550 is supplied with rotational power from the motor 500 and moves the damping bar 300 upward and downward.

Although an enlarged view of screw threads of the screw shaft 550 is not illustrated, the screw threads are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the screw shaft 550.

The supporting block 600 has a screw nut 650 coupled to one side of the screw shaft 550. That is, the screw nut 650 and the screw shaft 550 perform a relative motion by the rotation of the motor 500.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the supporting bracket 700 is coupled to the upper frame 250 of the diffuser frame 200 in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal direction of the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200. The supporting bracket 700 supports the supporting block 600. The supporting bracket 700 and the supporting block 600 may be detachably coupled to each other by a coupling method such as a thread connection which is publicly known to those skilled in the art.

As described above, in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the one side of the screw shaft 550 is supported on the diffuser frame 200 by the supporting block 600 and the supporting bracket 700.

When the motor 500 rotates the screw shaft 550, the screw shaft 550 moves the damping bar 300 upward or downward while being moved relative to the screw nut 650 of the supporting block 600.

The stopper 570 is coupled to one end of the screw shaft 550. The stopper 570 prevents the screw shaft 550 from inadvertently deviating from the screw nut 650 of the supporting block 600 due to the rotation of the motor 500.

The printed circuit board 540 controls the operation of the motor 500, and may be embedded in the damping bar 300 similar to the motor 500. Specifically, the printed circuit board 540 may also be accommodated in the motor accommodating portion 315 of the bar main body 310 together with the motor 500.

With the aforementioned configuration, maintenance of the diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be easily performed, and it is possible to control a discharge flow rate of air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner, and open and close the discharge port 209.

According to the diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the damping bar 300 is moved upward, the damping bar 300 engages with the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200 in a projection-and-recess engagement, and closes the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200, and when the damping bar 300 is moved downward, the discharge flow path DP having a predetermined length is formed between a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200 which forms the discharge port 209.

In a case in which a flow rate of air, which is discharged from the discharge port 209, is adjusted using a blade or a vane, it is difficult to control the flow rate of discharged air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner due to structural constraints. That is, because the blade or the vane adjusts an opening degree of the discharge port 209 while being rotated about a rotation axis, flow path resistance does not occur. Therefore, in this structure, it is not easy to control a flow rate of discharged air with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner.

However, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by simply moving the damping bar 300 downward, the discharge flow path DP having a predetermined length is formed between a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200 which forms the discharge port 209, thereby allowing a flow rate of air, which is discharged through the discharge port 209, to be linearly increased with respect to an opening degree.

This is because the discharge flow path DP having a predetermined length is formed between the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200, that is, between the surface and the surface, such that the discharge flow path DP may control a discharge flow rate with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner using the flow path resistance thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the motor 500 and the printed circuit board 540 are embedded in the damping bar 300, thereby preventing the configurations, such as the motor 500 and the printed circuit board 540, from hindering a flow of air that is discharged through the discharge port 209.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the damping bar 300 is divided into the bar main body 310 and the bar cover 350, thereby performing maintenance by easily taking the motor 500 and the printed circuit board 540, which are embedded in the damping bar 300, out of the damping bar 300.

Hereinafter, an operational process of the diffuser 101 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the motor 500 is operated to move the damping bar 300 upward, the damping bar 500 closes the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200, thereby preventing air from being discharged through the discharge port 209.

Specifically, the outer surface of the damping bar 300 engages with the inner surface of the partition wall frame 220 of the diffuser frame 200 which surrounds the discharge port 209, and as a result, the damping bar 300 closes the discharge port 209.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13, when the motor 500 is operated to move the damping bar 300 downward, the damping bar 300 opens the discharge port 209 of the diffuser frame 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, when the damping bar 300 is moved downward, the discharge flow path DP having a predetermined length is formed between a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200 which forms the discharge port 209. Since the discharge flow path DP formed as described above has a predetermined length, the discharge flow path DP has flow path resistance. Using the flow path resistance of the discharge flow path DP, it is possible to control a discharge flow rate of air, which is discharged through the discharge port 209, with respect to an opening degree in a linear manner.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since a part of the outer surface of the damping bar 300 and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame 200, which come into direct contact with each other so as to close the discharge port 209, are formed to be inclined, the discharge flow path DP is quantitatively enlarged as long as the damping bar 300 is moved downward. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 13, as the damping bar 300 is moved downward, a flow rate of air discharged through the discharge port 209 may be increased.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A diffuser which is connected to a duct and discharges air that is guided by the duct, the diffuser comprising: a diffuser frame which has a discharge port having a slot or quadrangular shape; a damping bar which is installed in the discharge port of the diffuser frame so as to be movable upward and downward, closes the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved upward, and opens the discharge port of the diffuser frame while being moved downward; a motor which is installed in the damping bar, and provides rotational power; and a screw shaft which has one side supported by the diffuser frame, and the other side connected to the motor, and moves the damping bar upward or downward by being supplied with rotational power from the motor.
 2. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein the damping bar includes: a bar main body which has a motor accommodating portion having an open side; and a bar cover which is detachably coupled to the bar main body, and covers the opening of the motor accommodating portion, wherein the motor is separably accommodated in the motor accommodating portion of the bar main body.
 3. The diffuser of claim 1, wherein a pair of motors is installed at both sides of the damping bar which are opposite to each other.
 4. The diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: a supporting block which has a screw nut coupled to one side of the screw shaft; and a supporting bracket which is coupled to an upper portion of the diffuser frame in a direction that intersects with a longitudinal direction of the discharge port, and supports the supporting block.
 5. The diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: a stopper which is coupled to one end of the screw shaft.
 6. The diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: a chamber which connects the duct and the diffuser frame, and changes a flow direction of air that is guided by the duct.
 7. The diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) which is embedded in the damping bar, and controls an operation of the motor.
 8. The diffuser of any one of claim 1, wherein the damping bar engages with the discharge port of the diffuser frame in a projection-and-recess engagement and closes the discharge port of the diffuser frame, when the damping bar is moved upward, a discharge flow path having a predetermined length is formed between a part of an outer surface of the damping bar and a part of an inner surface of the diffuser frame which forms the discharge port, when the damping bar is moved downward, and a discharge flow rate of air, which is discharged through the discharge port, with respect to an opening degree is controlled in a linear manner using flow path resistance of the discharge flow path.
 9. The diffuser of claim 8, wherein a part of the outer surface of the damping bar and a part of the inner surface of the diffuser frame, which engage with each other and close the discharge port, are formed to be inclined.
 10. The diffuser of claim 8, further comprising: a sealing member which is coupled to the damping bar, and surrounds the discharge port while coming into contact with the inner surface of the diffuser frame, when the damping bar closes the discharge port. 